THE ELABORATION OF THE CATEGORY OF THE SUBJECT: AN ENCOUNTER BETWEEN ALTHUSSER AND EARLY BADIOU

Date

2025-10-1

Author

Gürsoy, Deniz

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This thesis elaborates on the category of the subject within the intersection of Marxism and psychoanalysis. Starting from Althusser's theoretical innovations in the domains of causality, determination, and science, the tension that occurs between the standpoint of theoretical articulation and the category of the subject is elaborated. By focusing on Althusser's definition of science, with an emphasis on the unity of discourse and object, the exceptional object of psychoanalysis is discussed through a comparison of the concept "interpellation" with its psychoanalytic criticism and application. The intersectionality of Marxism and psychoanalysis is further addressed in the context of meta-applicability of psychoanalytic logic, i.e., the logic of the signifier. By emphasizing Badiou's criticism of psychoanalytic logic, the intermediary political and philosophical works of Badiou that lead to Theory of the Subject are analyzed in terms of dialectics, contradiction, and ideology. Providing the discussion of "One" and "Two" within the context of Hegelian dialectic, the elaboration of the category of the subject is articulated by mentioning how Badiou relates Lacan to Hegel and provides a criticism according to his understanding of the dialectic. The conclusion of the thesis is the association of the structural and historical contradictions with their corresponding conceptions of the category of the subject, where the intersection of Marxism and psychoanalysis is discussed in relation to history, the Lacanian real, materialism, and the relationship between theory and practice.

Subject Keywords

Althusser, Badiou, Psychoanalysis, Subject, Contradiction

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/116143

Collections

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Thesis